Monday, July 02, 2007

Agave Americana

These are Agave Americana, which I've heard referred to as "century plants." After decades of growth, they put up a flowering stalk only once, after which the original plant dies. However, suckers (off-shooting plantlings) may have developed radiating out from the original plant.

I think they are marvelous. So much texture. The flowering stalk gets to be about 15-20 feet high.

Tequila is made from the blue variety of this plant, which is in the lily and amaryllis family.